Batool Mutar Mahdi1, Riyadh Mohamad Hasan2, Wafaa Hazim31 Department of Microbiology, HLA Typing Research Unit, Al-Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq2 Department of Surgery, Al-Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq3 Department of Microbiology, Al-Kindy College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

Background: There are many risk factors associated with degree of development erosive esophagitis and its complications. Aim of the Study: To evaluate the effect of risk factors on severity of esophagitis and identify the most important risk factors among patients presenting to gastroscopy unit. Patients and Methods: Patients with upper gastrointestinal tract (GIT) symptoms were enrolled in gastroscope examination. For each participant, the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and immunoglobulin G Helicobacter pylori were done. Results: A total of 195 patients with upper GIT symptoms were examined by gastroscope. One hundred and twenty patients had erosive esophagitis (Grade II and III) (Group A): 75 of them were men (62.5%) and 45 (37.5%) were women. The rest 75 had gastroesophageal reflux disease Grade I (Group B), 52% of them were males, and the rest were females. Group A patients were more likely to be non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) users (42.5%) than Group B (P = 0.0002). Group A was more likely to be obese (body mass index >30) (37.5%) (P = 0.015). Men have waist circumference >102 cm and women have a waist circumference >88 cm constitute 92.5% (P = 0.0001) of Group A. Patient with Group A who had hiatus hernia (HH) were (20%) (P = 0.0001) and those with H. pylori (35%) (P = 0.001). Conclusions: Obesity, abdominal obesity, NSAID, HH, and H. pylori infection are strong risk factors for gastroesophageal reflux grades.